Bourbon Review: Barrell Bourbon Batches 4 & 5

I found a bit of water was essential to appreciating this high-proof whiskey. There’s a lot of round sweetness in the entry and mid-palate, with notes of toast, vanilla, caramel, and citrus. The finish is long and surprisingly maritime, with creamy, oyster-like briny notes. Barrell Batch 004 is a beautiful crowd-pleaser with a rich mouth feel and complex finish that saves it from being syrupy. Score: 89/100 Batch 005 Aged eight years, three months, and bottled at a strapping 124.9 proof, this is a bruiser of a bourbon. Batch 005 was distilled at an undisclosed location in Tennessee. Appearance: Slightly darker than the 004, with a burgundy cast. Very viscous in the glass. Nose: Intensely nutty with tons of buttery esters, giving the distinct impression of a fresh pecan pie. Palate: Like the 004, without water, it’s a bit closed, but a few drops remedies that situation nicely. Strong notes of hazelnut and pastry precede a mid palate dominated by molasses and demerara, again evoking nut pie. The finish moves in a drier direction, introducing some juicy satsuma tartness as well as a bit of cola-like phosphoric acid, before trailing off with a hint of slight French roast bitterness. This whiskey excels as a highball or over ice, with the high strength leaving plenty of room for dilution, while still retaining a robust flavor. Barrell Bourbon 005 is enjoyable from start to finish, moving seamlessly from sweet to sour to bitter in a masterful, mouth-filling dance. Score: 91/100